Death of a Guardsman [40k Fiction]

I posted this short story on another forum a couple of months ago and I figured I would see what other people think of it. Warhammer 40000 is a
science fiction universe that is dark, morbid and pretty bad. If you don't understand it's ok

It doesn't really have a plot because I wrote this pure stream of consciousness and had some ideas in my head. I'm working on a novel (I've had
plenty of novel ideas...literally...and haven't followed through.) with much more fluff and character development. I should probably write a few more
short stories in the universe since I've read seven different books and read countless background information. Enjoy

_____

He was floating in the void alone. He could feel his body aimlessly floating. Even if it were for a few seconds he was at peace in the best
dream of his life. An explosion over the bunker woke up him and he could see the falling embers raining on their position. But a secondary explosion
brought him up to a crouch as he grabbed his lasgun and slammed hard, back first, into the dirty, gore caked bunker wall. A guardsman was manning the
emplacement while another took shots at the enemy with his lasgun in between loading ammunition for the turret. Rounds skidded across the face of the
bunker forcing them to take cover.

“Looks like you broke the comm. Nice job.” The guardsman said shaking his head.

“Frag the comms they haven’t worked for weeks.” The operator yelled over the gun-fire.

The man shrugged and turned to fire back at the enemy. A round struck him in the head, his helmet providing no safety. Pieces of it lay on the ground
and blood covered the guard next to him. Blood soaked and battered the gunner strapped his fallen comrade’s lasgun to his back and glanced at the
shocked comms operator. He stared at him for a second and threw the lasgun to him along with a few clips before retreating from the bunker. He was
smart…the positions would be overrun in a few minutes. A few steps away from the position and the ground underneath him exploded, sending gore into
the dark gray sky.

He was anxious now. Comms were down and he was alone for all he knew. Across the hill-top the bunker where his friend had been stationed was being
destroyed. A giant in blood red power armor thrashed his way through piles of flesh. His horned helmet gleamed in the carnage. Yells to his left broke
his gaze of the Tainted Astartes as more immediate danger presented itself. He peered over the sandbags with his lasgun ready. Down the hill, where
gaunt looking heretics rushed up the hill screaming curses and firing their bolt-pistols and stubbers at the trench, gore and limbs filled the craters
where artillery, of the enemy, had met its mark just a few feet short. He was a guardsman…not a thinker.

They were sent like sheep into the grinder for what? Some forsaken Emperor cursed world? But at that moment he had the realization. If he retreated
from the bunker he would either get eaten up by hails of gunfire, quickly obliterated by artillery, or hunted down like an animal. Even his own
commissar would cut him down if he retreated. What was he living for anyways? After the founding he and his new guards dreamed of glorious conquest
and having their names echoed in the histories of their worlds. His death would be meaningless but it was important only for the Emperor. Where the
hell is the Emperor? He sure isn’t standing in this hole fighting with me. The Inquisition wasn’t coming to destroy him for heresy. There was only
this situation and the only outcome was death.

If he was going to die he would die fighting. To his horror his clip was empty after four shots. None had hit the target and he screamed curses at
himself. Hours ago he had forgotten to reload his clip after the last skirmish. Thankfully the backup would work and he tossed the empty gun away
while he fell back to the rear of the bunker. As soon as he saw the head-dress of one of the heretics he emptied two rounds into the thing’s face,
knocking it back, as more came into view.

Between the frantic shots of his gun a nearly silent splash caught his attention. Time slowed down. He knew that a grenade had landed close to him. He
might as well relish these last few seconds fighting the great enemy. Maybe the Emperor would protect him after all. The blast threw him across the
bunker, whip lashing his head violently. His vision blurred…he managed to glance down at the bloody stubs where his legs had been and groaned in
agony. The pain drained away and cold numbness filled his body. His remaining hand touched around the hole in his chest where the last vestiges of
pain diminished.

He felt that he still had his necklace, the fang of a predator of his home world. Shrapnel had gorged itself deep into his flesh underneath the fangs
reach. He had always thought flak armor was worthless. The cold feeling crept up his torso and he quickly began to lose feeling in his body or what
remained of it. His throat had begun to fill with blood but he couldn’t move his mouth. At least he couldn’t feel anything. The heretics rushed
over the sandbags and seizured violently in triumph.

Across the hill the red giant had finished his slaughter and raised his chainsword in the air. More red giants crested the hill and fired off into the
distance, out of view. One of the heretics approached the man. The last few seconds of his existence were spent looking into the eyes of the enemy.
The enemy he had feared his entire life. The enemy he and his guard had been fighting for months. Somewhere in the sector, unknown to the command of
the Lexxian 9th Regiment, a guardsman had died. Thousands of his brothers had fallen fighting the enemies of the Imperium. Somewhere, a candle light
was extinguished amongst the black backdrop, and more took its place.

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